Doing preschool at home

[Anonymous]

We will not be sending our three-year-old to preschool this year. “Academically” he’s fine but I worry about his emotional development. He has an infant sister but no other playmates besides adults (and won’t have play mates - we are firm about that).

So it’s up to nanny, DH and I to teach sharing, taking turns, waiting, ending certain play (eg “time to put away play dough” before he wants to)...

First, what am I forgetting? He’s been potty-trained for a year and can take his shoes on and off by himself.

Hopefully he’ll start preK September 2021.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Just for fun, come September, we’re going to start giving DD her lunch in a lunch box at her little play table (rather than at the kitchen counter).

[Anonymous]

Routines and consistency. That's the most important thing my kid got from their Montessori preschool. We thought we were doing OK with that until we saw how calm and organized their school was, and how tranquil snack and lunch were.

Every day starts the same way, you hang up your coat and put your bag in the cubby as soon as you come in. Every time you eat you set the table, serve, and clean up the same way, and when you get out/put away your work, you do the same things each time. The were allowed to choose what they wanted to work on throughout the day, but the routine was similar for each type of task. They used mats or trays to contain the mess, so it was easier for the kids to clean up afterward. And the day was broken into regular segments that eventually made transitions easier once they got used to the routines. (i.e., after snack we always have recess; after recess we always have rest time, etc.)

The kids weren't punished for not adhering to the routines, but they were gently and consistently reminded and guided back on track every time, and eventually it stuck.

It made a huge difference in our household, and made it much easier to transition to the routines of a kindergarten classroom. You might not want to be as rigid as a Montessori school in terms of the "work" your child is doing, but the emphasis on routines is something every good preschool will have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Routines and consistency. That's the most important thing my kid got from their Montessori preschool. We thought we were doing OK with that until we saw how calm and organized their school was, and how tranquil snack and lunch were.

Every day starts the same way, you hang up your coat and put your bag in the cubby as soon as you come in. Every time you eat you set the table, serve, and clean up the same way, and when you get out/put away your work, you do the same things each time. The were allowed to choose what they wanted to work on throughout the day, but the routine was similar for each type of task. They used mats or trays to contain the mess, so it was easier for the kids to clean up afterward. And the day was broken into regular segments that eventually made transitions easier once they got used to the routines. (i.e., after snack we always have recess; after recess we always have rest time, etc.)

The kids weren't punished for not adhering to the routines, but they were gently and consistently reminded and guided back on track every time, and eventually it stuck.

It made a huge difference in our household, and made it much easier to transition to the routines of a kindergarten classroom. You might not want to be as rigid as a Montessori school in terms of the "work" your child is doing, but the emphasis on routines is something every good preschool will have.

Another parent of a Montessori kid and this is exactly our experience as well.

[Anonymous]

My 5 year old has a 1 year old sister and the two of them play pretty well together. How old is your infant?

[Anonymous]

Do family circle time! My DD loves this. She fills in the gaps with stuffed animals and we all have to say our names and sing a couple nursery rhymes!

[Anonymous]

Just enjoy this last year of sweet innocence together. Do not worry at all about a three year old not going to school. Read a lot, ding, dance, run outside, kick balls, throw bean bags back and forth, splash pool, arts and crashes, use scissors(kid kind), paste paper on paper, make funny hats with paper plates, do kids yoga dvds, read, read, read, hug and laugh and know they will be just fine. More than fine!

[Anonymous]

Sing not ding!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just enjoy this last year of sweet innocence together. Do not worry at all about a three year old not going to school. Read a lot, ding, dance, run outside, kick balls, throw bean bags back and forth, splash pool, arts and crashes, use scissors(kid kind), paste paper on paper, make funny hats with paper plates, do kids yoga dvds, read, read, read, hug and laugh and know they will be just fine. More than fine!

YES!

I will say, as a preschool teacher and director, that the one thing you can do amid all of the above is to teach your child to take turns. When you are using markers today, and he wants the green one you are using - most adults will hand it right over (I mean, you don't really care if you use red or green) - but what happens is that kids get used to getting what they want, when they want, and are shocked when other kids don't give up their green marker instantly!

So when you are coloring and he wants the green marker, instead of letting him take it, tell him, you can have it when I'm finished with it. Why don't you choose another color while you wait? And then you use the marker for another minute, then say OK, I'm done, here you go. Let's trade, I'll take the blue you have, and you can have the green I was using." Or here you go, I'm done. And then you choose from the marker container. Or have 2 of each color, and he can get the green from the container. Then you can ask him sometimes if you could use his yellow one "when you are done" - all of these prosocial skills are important when learning to get along with others. So often parents just let their kids get away with whatever, but it's important that they be respectful and kind to you as well as to other children.

but otherwise, other than having a routine and flow of the day (but don't you all do that? do you really sometimes go outside at 9, other times at 12noon, missing lunch, then sometimes have lunch at 10am, other times at 1pm, other times at 12noon? I think not!)

Remember, preschool teachers need a calm routine because we have 15-20 children all at the same time, who need to move en masse from classroom to cubby for boots to playground, then back again! But in a household with 2 children, you need routine and structure but I don't think you need to mimic cubby, morning preschool routines, etc. Just have a wonderful year! remember to listen to him, wonder with him, look at bugs, blades of grass, dig great big holes to nowhere, get outside for 2 hours every day, jump in every mud puddle, climb every hill, run down the hills, paint, use playdough, use markers, chalk, crayons, and just have fun!